Saturday, March 26, 2011

29 lions from Gir forest die in 8 months

Gandhinagar, Mar 23 (PTI) Twenty nine Asiatic lions including ten cubs died in the famous Gir forests over the last eight months, the Gujarat Assembly was told today. "The death of 19 Lions and 10 cubs has taken place in the Gir forest region and surrounding areas since the Lion census was conducted in April 2010," Forest Minister Mangu Patel stated in a written reply to a question of State Congress President Arjun Modhvadia. Modhvadia, had raised a question asking about the status of Asiatic Lions till December 2010, post the census conducted in Gujarat. As per estimates of the Lion census conducted in April 2010, there were 97 Lions, 162 Lionesses and 152 cubs in and around Gir forest region of the state, which is also the last abode of Asiatic Lions. The 2005 census had recorded presence of 359 lions here. While there have been many deaths, many new cubs were born in the last breeding season, state forest department officials said.